Jean McCaughey Social Justice Sub-Fund Grants

The Jean McCaughey Social Justice Sub-Fund was established by the Trustees of the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust to show appreciation and recognise the significant contribution of Dr Jean McCaughey AO to the Victorian community.

Jean was a champion of social justice values and tireless community advocate, researcher and author. In her time as the wife of Victoria’s Governor she was known for her egalitarian style, opening up Government House to the public, and accepting patronage of more than 100 charities, chosen because of the value of their work.

The Jean McCaughey Social Justice Sub-Fund supports research projects that relate to women in the areas of:

Homelessness;

Poverty and family well-being;

Strengthening local communities.

Click below to download a copy of the oration booklet released at the opening of this Sub-Fund.

2017 JEAN McCAUGHEY SOCIAL JUSTICE SUB-FUND GRANTS

The Welfare to Work and the Experience of Marginalised Single Mothers research project aims to examine and understand the lived experiences of 20 single mothers with school aged children who are on the Welfare to Work program as part of their mutual obligation to receive Parenting Payment Single or Newstart Allowance. The project will expand upon a preliminary study undertaken by Good Shepherd in 2017 that investigated how the Welfare to Work program impacts on the financial security and self-reliance of single mothers. This next iteration will reach a more diverse cross-section of marginalised single mothers.

2016 Jean McCaughey Social Justice Sub-Fund Grants

To design, develop and conduct a training course in Homeshare practice, which matches unrelated people of different ages to share living arrangement for mutual benefit. The course will be designed to suit experienced social workers or other welfare or counselling professionals interested in developing skills and work in what is a relatively new practice.

“The preponderant view is that change has been forced upon local communities, often with arrogance and insensitivity, and that much knowledge, good will and resource has been wasted or destroyed in the process”– Jean McCaughey AO & Ben Bodna AM, People Together Project, 1997